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:Family: Euphorbiaceae
:Chromosome number: 2''n'' 2n = 22
== Synonyms ==
The seed oil resembles cotton-seed oil in its proportions of linoleic, oleic and saturated acids. The total linolenic and linoleic acid content varied from 60–75%. No chemical analyses have been effected on the aerial parts of ''Chrozophora plicata'', but from the aerial parts of the related ''Chrozophora tinctoria'' (L.) Raf. (synonym: ''Chrozophora obliqua'' (Vahl) A.Juss. ex Spreng.) occurring from north-western India to the Mediterranean, several toxic dolabellane diterpene glucosides, dolabellane diterpenoids and phenylpropanoid glucosides have been isolated. Although rats fed 10% leaves in their diet had a low growth rate, bouts of soft faeces, lesions of internal organs and alterations in blood and urea, no death occurred among the rats.
== Botany Description ==
Monoecious, annual to perennial herb up to 50 cm tall; stem angular, much-branched from the base, densely hairy with stellate hairs, yellowish or pinkish. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules small; petiole 1–4(–7) cm long; blade broadly ovate to rhombic-ovate, 1.5–7 cm × 1–5.5 cm, base cuneate to shallowly cordate with 2 purple glands, apex rounded to obtuse, margins entire or shallowly toothed, densely hairy with stellate hairs, 3–5-veined at base. Inflorescence a condensed axillary raceme 1.5–4 cm long, with male flowers at the top and female flowers at base; bracts small. Flowers unisexual, regular, 5-merous; calyx with stellate hairs; male flowers with short pedicel, calyx with lanceolate lobes c. 3 mm long, petals elliptical-oblong, c. 3 mm long, yellowish orange or pinkish, stamens 15, filaments fused into a column; female flowers with long pedicel, extending up to 2(–3) cm in fruit, sepals linear-lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm long, petals minute or absent, ovary superior, 3-celled, densely short-hairy, styles 3, 1.5–2 mm long, fused at base, deeply 2-fid, red. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule 4–5 mm × 7–9 mm, densely stellate-hairy, reddish or bluish purple when ripe, 3-seeded. Seeds ovoid, c. 3.5 mm long, smooth or minutely dotted, pale or dark brown to blackish.
== Other botanical information == ''Chrozophora'' comprises 7–8 species and is distributed in Africa, southern Europe and Asia. === ''Chrozophora oblongifolia'' ===Another ''Chrozophora'' species with medicinal use in Africa is ''[[Chrozophora oblongifolia]]'' (Delile) A.Juss. ex Spreng., occurring in north-eastern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan. In Sudan a stem or leaf extract is taken to treat gonorrhoea. The chloroform and methanol extracts show considerable antibacterial activities.
== Ecology ==
== Correct citation of this article ==
Schmelzer, G.H., 2007. '''Chrozophora plicata''' (Vahl) A.Juss. ex Spreng. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.